I know I don't contibute often to that part of the forum, but most of the time I feel like I can't compete with the guitar beasts that hang around here, so I'll stick to what I do best : asking questions.

I'd like to play my electric guitar, with no pick attack or as little pick attack as possible, almost like playing a synth.

Anyone got advice on the best way to do it ?

I know some ways : using fingers instead of a pick helps, softer picks, volume swells...

But is there a really handy tool, compressor perhaps ? Any other advice ?

I'm pretty sure theres pedals that swell the volume from zero as you pick. That should work. I know I had a zoom pedal that did that a few years ago.

Fri Apr 12, 2013 11:53 am

MissMisstreater

God Of The Sun

Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:49 amPosts: 4801Location: london baby

Re: No pick attack

yeah, it depends what you want as an end result. An auto fade will sound like violining, it's very obvious and is useless when playing fast. You'll get a better result with an ebow, but that is only good for long notes.

Hammer on a string from nowhere and see if that's what you're after, if so you need to learn to reduce your attack. For that the stylus pick is a good thing to practice with.

The reality is though, you're never going to completely eliminate your attack because you need something to make the string vibrate!

It almost sounds like you're after the Holdsworth sound. He has that super light pick attack, sometimes none because he also uses his fingers, and that really smooth synth/horn-like quality to his tone. I know he's not well loved on these forums but check the video out, once without watching the video, and once watching it.

Some tips...You could roll down your tone knob a little bit if the attack is too strong on the bridge pickup. This works especially well for strats. On humbuckies it might get a little muddy, but just use your better judgement on how much to roll off.

As far as using different kinds of picks? I'd experiment. I'd go for a pick that has a really smooth round edge with a really smooth material. A thin pick will give you more snap and slice, while a fatter pick will give you a more robust and fat attack. Those Black Ice picks come to mind when talking about smooth material with a rounder edge (if you like the jazz III shape but hate the texture/tone). Adjust how hard you're picking as well, if you're getting too much attack, pick lighter. Also, the more flat/parallel you pick to the string, the less of a slicing/chipping sound you'll get, and more of a fat initial attack.

As for tone, if you have an aggressive sounding distortion/guitar, there's not much you can do to change that character other than what's already been said. Some guitars are just not conducive to certain types of playing, and neither are some amps (Laney's come to mind) and pedals. That being said however, HB guitars are easier to achieve the compressed, synth like tone. As for overdrive, you might have to experiment with some nice pedals.

Also, not sure if you'd want to take the time to do this, but economy picking nets you a much smoother sound than alternate picking.

It almost sounds like you're after the Holdsworth sound. He has that super light pick attack, sometimes none because he also uses his fingers, and that really smooth synth/horn-like quality to his tone. I know he's not well loved on these forums but check the video out, once without watching the video, and once watching it.

Some tips...You could roll down your tone knob a little bit if the attack is too strong on the bridge pickup. This works especially well for strats. On humbuckies it might get a little muddy, but just use your better judgement on how much to roll off.

As far as using different kinds of picks? I'd experiment. I'd go for a pick that has a really smooth round edge with a really smooth material. A thin pick will give you more snap and slice, while a fatter pick will give you a more robust and fat attack. Those Black Ice picks come to mind when talking about smooth material with a rounder edge (if you like the jazz III shape but hate the texture/tone). Adjust how hard you're picking as well, if you're getting too much attack, pick lighter. Also, the more flat/parallel you pick to the string, the less of a slicing/chipping sound you'll get, and more of a fat initial attack.

As for tone, if you have an aggressive sounding distortion/guitar, there's not much you can do to change that character other than what's already been said. Some guitars are just not conducive to certain types of playing, and neither are some amps (Laney's come to mind) and pedals. That being said however, HB guitars are easier to achieve the compressed, synth like tone. As for overdrive, you might have to experiment with some nice pedals.

Also, not sure if you'd want to take the time to do this, but economy picking nets you a much smoother sound than alternate picking.

Thanks for the advice Bean !

I'll test it out, starting with the easiest things to experiment, and then working into details.

I need that kind of tone for a single use in a music project, I'm not particularly into that type of tone, so I won't be investing to much money in equipment like a brand new guitar or amp for that, I'll try to work with what I have, though I might consider using a pedal or device that I could use for other purposes later.

It almost sounds like you're after the Holdsworth sound. He has that super light pick attack, sometimes none because he also uses his fingers, and that really smooth synth/horn-like quality to his tone. I know he's not well loved on these forums but check the video out

Dude, a couple of weeks ago I was literally 10 feet away from Allan just hanging out watching him soundcheck… and then shortly after watching him perform! I don't do twitter, but during that I really wish I did because I would have been tweeting like a motherfucker with “HOLY SHIT I’M 10 FEET AWAY FROM ALLAN FUCKING HOLDSWORTH WATCHING HIM WARM UP!!!” It was absolutely amazing and very surreal.

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